Use simple English

Abstract

In his provocative support for Dr Hird's plea (Physics Bulletin May 1977 p199) that in speaking and writing to people who do not have a good command of English, one should use simple rather than poetic English, Professor Ziman (Physics Bulletin July 1977 p299) presumably does not propose the use of 'broken English' that is deliberately imperfect or with the syntax incomplete. Although errors of grammar, syntax or pronunciation should be forgiven in those for whom English is not a mother tongue, the 'native' should follow the advice of Sir Ernest Gowers who wrote in Plain Words (HMSO 1948 p34):